Rainy Days and Mondays

This week I chose the song "Rainy Days and Mondays" by The Carpenters, because they do really get me down sometimes. It has been raining a lot here, wrecking scheduling, traveling and just ruining good times. I dislike Mondays as they are layout days and can be stressful and long.

I did get the privilege of covering one of the best baseball games I have ever witnessed as the Bottineau Braves beat the Bishop Ryan Lions 2-1 in 10 innings to qualify for the state tournament.

I have several photos from a couple of the games in the Region 5 tournament.

Bottineau third basemen Logan Millican fields a ball as a North Star base runner watches in the second round of regions.

Junior Justin McCloud delivers a pitch in Bottineau's 4-1 win over North Star last Tuesday.

Senior Jake Folven swings against North Star Tuesday.

McCloud connects with a Jacob Hagler pitch last Tuesday.

Junior catcher Mark LaCroix prepares to unload on a pitch in the win over North Star.

Millican, a junior, comes up just short on fielding a ground ball Tuesday.

McCloud delivers against North Star.

LaCroix just misses a foul pop Tuesday.

Junior Cody Brooks turns on a fastball from Hagler Tuesday.

LaCroix and senior Taylor Milbrath celebrate after Milbrath retires the side in last Wednesday's Region 5 championship.

Senior Chris Hill prepares to smack a pitch from Bishop Ryan pitcher Ben Magnuson.

LaCroix dives for a foul pop up in last Wednesday's 2-1 championship victory.

McCloud fires to first after fielding a grounder last Wednesday.

McCloud connects with a Magnuson pitch midway through the region championship game.

Milbrath, who pitched Wednesday, fields a pop fly.

Freshman Andrew Hill turns on a pitch against Bishop Ryan last Wednesday.

Bottineau Head Coach Nate Simpson watches as his team competes in the championship.

LaCroix slides as he attempts to steal second base in the seventh inning. Though the ball beat him to the bag, he was safe and ended up scoring the tying run.

LaCroix celebrates with teammates after he scores the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning last Wednesday.

Brooks fields a pop fly in the late innings of Wedensday's championship.

Millican tries to avoid Sam Ebert's tag after he was beaten to home plate by the throw.